Welcome to the April--June Project. The theme
for this project will be "Self Portrait." The painting you submit
must be painted specifically for this project and be watermedia. Submit your
images to me via email or snail mail. Send title, size, and comments about
the paintings and painting process. Let me know if it is OK to link your email
address when I add your image to the project page. The project end date is
June 30, 2006.

The images on this page are protected by copyright
law. Any use without the expressed consent of the artist is prohibited!!!

After viewing your web site, I decided to
join in on the watercolor project. A year ago, I graduated with my art teaching
credential and this painting is from a photo of that day. In the meantime,
I have been able to concentrate on improving myself as an artist. So it was
great to have a project to complete last week. There is always so much to
learn; it seems to never end.

Labored over this and was about to chuck it
when my granddaughter recognized me in the painting. So here it is on Arches,
CP, 140 lb, 7" x 10", Holbein and Schmincke paints, Raw Sienna and
Vermilion for the flesh and washes of Ultramarine Blue for the shadows.

I've never aspired to be a portrait artist
so this was very hard as well as intimidating as my wife is a great acrylic
portrait artist. I welcome any comments/critiques (except from her). I painted
this wet on wet (except for the hair) on 140# Cold Pressed Lanaquarelle paper
with Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, and drops of Cobalt Blue. Payne's Grey
for the hair. 9x12.

I have been lurking around this site for quite
some time and have decided to submit my self-portrait. This is the first portrait
I have ever done and surprisingly it does look like me. I decided to stop
and not to try to fix all the things that don't look quite right, in particular
values ... don't want my first submission an unrecognizeable mud mess. 7x10
on Cartiera Magnani block with Winsor Newton watercolors, particularly Perm.
Rose, Raw Sienna, Alizarin, Thalo Green and whatever else I stuck my brush
in. Happy Painting.

Best I could do I'm afraid but enjoyed the
challenge so will try again. My husband thinks I look "snooty""...ha-ha!
I used Winsor& Newton paper,140lb cold pressed, which was nice to work
with, and various paints including WN, Daler-Rowney and Maimeriblue. Still
sorting out my transparent, opaque, sedimentary, staining paints etc. I like
the paints that wipe out best :o).

Here is my self portrait. It's not great
because I hurried it to get it done before the holidays. I am trying to get
back to painting on a regular basis. Its been hard since Duane died. In July
I and taking a workshop from Tom Lynch, and I am looking forward to that.

I've been lurking on this site for a year,
but this is my first submission. My husband says it looks like me, which is
amazing. This watercolor is on 300 lb, Arches paper. Some of the main colors
include yellow ochre, rose madder genuine, Indian red hue, viridian, and cobalt
blue.

I think I should be able to sue someone for
this effort but I don't know whom! Me? My skin tone was too yellow so I fixed
it up and it looks like I have been out in the sun too long. Hey, how about
a landscape for the next challenge?

I am sending my self portrait in this email
in the nick of time I hope. I have never done portraits before, but decided
after visiting your site to go ahead and try. 3 colors are all I used for
this painting: permanent alizarin crimson, french ultramarine blue and yellow
ochre all W&N Artist paints. It is a small 10"x7" on W&N
cold pressed Paper. I used a strange technique painting this. I placed the
paint and blotted it off constantly throughout the process. I was careful
not to lift any paint that had dried before, but Ii wanted a light effect
throughout and a purple tinge to the whole painting. I think I succeeded.
Don't really like the eyes too much, they came out too harsh, but I will live
with it. Anyway here it goes.

I am a novice painter and this project really
pushed me to go beyond my painting comfort zone! I painted several portraits
before I settled on this one. I found Charles Reid's book 'Portrait Painting
in Watercolor' very helpful and also chapters by Alex Powers in 'Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor'. I used Lanaquarelle HR 140lb paper,
11"x11", Ultramarine Blue and Rose Madder.

I painted this on Arches 140# cold press paper
with Winsor-Newton paints. It is 9 by 7 inches. This was a quick sketch. It
was both fun and frustrating. Thanks for this interesting painting opportunity.

I have attached my painting for the April-June
2006 project. The painting was done on W/N CP#140 size 12" X 10"
with W/N watercolors and gouache highlights here and there. I feel the painting
is a fair likeness, gray hair, lines and all.

Portraits are always a stretch for me. I fear
I waited to the last minute for this painting--and then had two disasterous
attemps before finally finishing this painting last night about 8 p.m. My
palette was limited to Daniel Smith Quin Rose, WN Cobalt Blue and Aureolin.